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Everyone would like to know the future - if it isn't to unsettleling.

Most of us would like to know the future if it holds good news for ourselves - if we are to become rich, be in perfect health, live a very long life. Some go to fortune tellers, modern soothsayers, ad infinitum. These in personal desires mostly, but some would also like know the future for a loved one, or a dear friend...and so it goes.

Most would simply like to know what is in store for those events that directly affect them and those closest to them. We desire to know the future if it holds good things for us and the ones closest to us.

However, when it comes to knowing the future for ourselves and those close to us as individuals, it cannot be known. We may discern a trend, or a series of related events in our lives, but...the certainly of our future is not for us to know. Its like a very popular melody sung by a famous singer some years ago that was entitled "Que Sara, Sara" (pardon my very rough Spanish). Translated it means "whatever will be will be". The lyric goes on with "the futures not ours to see, Que Sara Sara".

Very true indeed for our future. However, God has shown us much of the future in general terms that are very important in our lives as Christians. He addresses many events in the Bible that will take place that may or may not occur in lifetimes. Much of the future has been outlined in the Bible by His prophets. Some of this comes under the description of type and anti-type, symbolism, etc.

The advertising slogan "inquiring minds want to know.." is perhaps an understatement in the world today. Many have dared to understand events and coordinate them with predicted events in the Bible, especially the Book of Revelation. However, when it is according to God's timetable for the future to be known in specifics, He will let us know.

Until then, we have in the Bible many of the events we can understand, although they may not be revealed in timetable specifics. These we can know now, and understand. It is very important that we know and understand what He determines what we NEED to understand today - now, as we live in the times that God has had us born into.

One of the most important revelation (outside of the Book of Revelation...) we can know NOW, and it is most important that we never forget no matter how long or short the time until Jesus returns. These are words of Jesus to the disciples about the future - not their future, but perhaps yours and mine. These events include some events in the relatively near future at that time. However, most is for our day. This writer believes one can discern a general world direction for the coming of these events in our world today. Notice Jesus' words - I have broken Jesus' discourse down into paragraph style for easier reading:

"While He was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately and said, Tell us, when will this take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end (the completion, the consummation) of the age? Jesus answered them, Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. For many will come in (on the strength of) My name appropriating the name which belongs to Me], saying, I am the Christ (the Messiah), and they will lead many astray.

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened or troubled, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place; All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the birth pangs [of the [d]intolerable anguish].

Then they will hand you over to suffer affliction and tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for My name sake.

And then many will be offended and repelled and will [e]begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred.

And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity, But he who endures to the end will be saved." - Matthew 24:1-13 (AMP)

The scripture is taken from the Amplified Bible which includes much of the full meaning of the original Greek, which adds to a better grasp of what Jesus was saying.

Jesus lists attitudes along with events of these things to come. Granted, there has always been many similar events and attitudes. The key is that these events began slowly in times past because they have always been elements of a fallen world since the Garden of Eden. The key is that these attitudes tend to increase as the our world shrinks, people have become more mobile, and not to leave out the most important factor - Satan the devil has become more active ever since He spoke through the serpent. He will continue to do so, hoping to destroy all that God created.

What can you and I do? Jesus gave the shortest command he ever gave while He was on the earth:

"WATCH!"

While we watch, draw ever closer to Jesus Christ in complete surrender. This is the Christian's only real defense - now, and in the future.

"Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man." - Luke 21:26

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

The Fulfilling Marriage